Before you accept an exchange 20# propane bottle

[past-MIdirector]

Make sure you check the date on the propane bottle that you exchange next time. We've noticed that both Blue Flame and AmeriGas are using outdated bottles. We went to Walmarts the other day and the young man pulled a Blue Flame bottle with a 02/00 date on the bottle. I told him I wanted a bottle with a current date to which he said what date. We went threw half the rack before we found one with a 12/10 date. Most were 02 and earlier. Propane suppliers will not refill outdated exchange bottles so you are therefore stuck with exchanging them only. This same thing happened to us up north at a campground with AmericGas and the newest bottle they had was 06/97 in there rack and again the individual did not know about the date. They were also filling bottles on site and not checking dates. Bottles are good for 12 years from manufacture date and then need a re-inspected sticker that are not being done on these exchanged bottles!!

[stuplich]

Bob & Ann wrote:

The exchange program did not work well for me.
I exchanged for an almost new tank.
When I used it only half of the gas would dispense.
The rest was trapped in the canister.
I still have it under my carport.

Bob & Ann
I believe that all portable propane tanks now have an "internal safety valve" that stops or reduces the flow of propane if the tank valve is not opened SLOWLY.

BTW, if/when that "internal safety valve" malfunctions no gas will come out.
I have found that disconnecting the tank and rolling it on it's side will restore it to working condition.

That may sound crazy but it has worked for me more than once.

Mel
'96 Safari

[stuplich]

dannytas wrote:

what do you do with the outdated tanks? I thought that I would exchange them for newer ones, but if there are not accepted, what to do?

dannytas
Simply go to another store and exchange them there.
Most stores will exchange outdated tanks without questions.

BTW, some places offer "24/7 Self-Serve Propane Cylinder Exchange", (where exchanges can be made using a credit card).
see: http://www.menards.com/main/heating-cooling/propane-tanks/lp-propane-gas-tank-exchange/p-1626072-c-6878.htm

Mel
'96 Safari

[Caveman_Charlie]

dannytas wrote:
Hey guys, not to hyjack this post, but what do you do with the outdated tanks? I thought that I would exchange them for newer ones, but if there are not accepted, what to do?

Around here they will accept them at the local auto crushing yard / scrapyard. They just unscrew the valve to make sure it's empty for sure and then throw them in the trunk of a old car before it goes through the crusher.

[dannytas]

Hey guys, not to hyjack this post, but what do you do with the outdated tanks? I thought that I would exchange them for newer ones, but if there are not accepted, what to do?

[bigwheelsturnin]

okay..thanx.. 😉

[Me_Again]

2oldman wrote:

BuckBarker wrote:
Walmart(s)? Yep, I can tell you are from MI. Me too. It took years to drop the s from Ford(s), Kroger(s), etc.

Out west it's Boeings and Nordstroms.

I saw two deers the other day! Chris

[stuplich]

byronlj wrote:
A lot of you are forgetting the new procedure that came into effect with the new style valves. They can only fill the opd equipped cylinders to 80% of full. If you take this into account, 15lbs pre-filled is close to what you would get filling your own.
Dave

byronlj
I believe that the commonly called "20 lb" propane tanks/bottles hold 20 lbs,(4.7 gal), of propane when filled to the 80% level.
Am I wrong?
Mel

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Bob & Ann wrote:
The exchange program did not work well for me. I exchanged for an almost new tank. When I used it only half of the gas would dispense. The rest was trapped in the canister. I carried it back and they refused to accept it because they did not want it with gas in it even though I got it there. The guy that had the service on his property was not capable of handling a problem. I still have it under my carport. I went to Costco bought two tanks and just rotate them out and keep then full through a local propane company. Learned that it saved me a lot of money with zero aggravation.

Just bang it on the ground a few times and it will work again. The OPD valve is stuck.

[Bob___Ann]

The exchange program did not work well for me. I exchanged for an almost new tank. When I used it only half of the gas would dispense. The rest was trapped in the canister. I carried it back and they refused to accept it because they did not want it with gas in it even though I got it there. The guy that had the service on his property was not capable of handling a problem. I still have it under my carport. I went to Costco bought two tanks and just rotate them out and keep then full through a local propane company. Learned that it saved me a lot of money with zero aggravation.

[JJBIRISH]

byronlj wrote:
A lot of you are forgetting the new procedure that came into effect with the new style valves. They can only fill the opd equipped cylinders to 80% of full. If you take this into account, 15lbs pre-filled is close to what you would get filling your own.
Dave

not at all, a 20 lb. cylinder has 20 lb. at the 80% fill level…
they have always been filled to 80%...

[ol_Bombero-JC]

2oldman wrote:

BuckBarker wrote:
Walmart(s)? Yep, I can tell you are from MI. Me too. It took years to drop the s from Ford(s), Kroger(s), etc.

Out west it's Boeings and Nordstroms.

"Out West" we would say you're full of baloney - or should that be balogna?

Guess "Back East" folks get tanks at Home Depot or Lowe..:R

.

[Ole_Man_Dan]

RoyB wrote:
So far I usually get away with re-filling my tanks here at home before going on our trips. Still have my same 2008 propane bottles. We usually always use the camp ground 20AMP pedestals for our oil-filed portable electric heaters when camping so it saves a bunch of propane use for us on the trips. Very seldom run the propane furnace. Way too noisy for us. Keeps me AWAKE all night

Roy Ken

A local Propane Distributor has a special all Summer.
$12 to fill a 20# tank on Wednesdays.
I fill three tanks, then the next week I fill three tanks.

I always take an extra tank or so when we camp.
I have a Grill top/stove, plus an extra big burner (60,000 BTU)
for things like Low Country Boils.

I mostly don't use my Propane to run my furnace. Too noisy.
A separate 20 amp line allows me to heat quietly on the camps dime.

[dverstra]

BuckBarker wrote:
Walmart(s)? Yep, I can tell you are from MI. Me too. It took years to drop the s from Ford(s), Kroger(s), etc.

I resemble that remark!:B:B


I also watch the dates on the pre-filled cylinders. If I remember right, there is technically a border crossing issue also.

[mowermech]

Even the old pre-OPD cylinders were SUPPOSED to be filled only to 80%. that is what the 80% valve (also known as the "spitter valve") was (and is)for.
When the cylinder is being filled, the 80% valve is supposed to be opened, and when liquid propane spits out the filling should be stopped and all valves closed.
On the new OPD valve equipped (or the old cylinders fitted with the new valves), the filling is stopped when the OPD shuts off or when the 80% valve shows liquid propane, whichever occurs first. Ideally, both should occur at the same time, but life is seldom ideal.